Young People Discuss Their Future at the Pontifical Salesian University
An inspiring meeting, full of energy and depth, enlivened the halls of the Pontifical Salesian University of Rome: the protagonists were high school students and our President Francesco Augurusa, in an open and motivational dialogue about the future, talent, and the profound meaning of being entrepreneurs. Finding direction in life to discover who we are and where we want to go, to learn not to abandon our dreams: this was the beating heart of the meeting held by our President. Guided by innovative tools like Design Thinking—a way of thinking and working that helps solve problems creatively—and called to question the proper use of Artificial Intelligence, the young men and women were involved in a personal and introspective journey that invited them to explore aspirations, fears, and dreams.
“Every day we have the opportunity to discover something unique within ourselves,” the President reminded. “We live in a world where some people still live in extreme poverty. This should drive us to find our motivation, to act, and above all to give back. We cannot afford to live a life without passion: we spend most of our time working. If we don’t find something we’re passionate about, we risk living without happiness .”
The meeting revolved around the central theme: “Entrepreneurship in service of society as a noble vocation,” a concept that goes well beyond mere economic activity. Doing business today means creating shared value, giving back to society, to concretely contribute to reducing inequalities and eradicating poverty.
In this sense, the entrepreneur becomes an agent of change, a figure who – as we read in a testimony from Pope Francis – has “a noble vocation aimed at creating wealth and improving the world for everyone“.
In this meeting with young people, the President emphasized how the entrepreneurial mindset can be applied to personal life: self-management, organization, responsibility, and passion are the foundations for building a serene and conscious life path. It’s necessary to reignite our passion for life, to rediscover what drives and guides us.
Pope Francis, in his words, reminds us that the right to business freedom cannot be separated from respect for the environment and commitment to the common good. Business, in fact, is not just an economic tool, but a social and cultural lever: it finances research, supports educational, musical, sports, and solidarity initiatives, contributing decisively to improving the society we live in.
Doing business today doesn’t just mean “doing business,” but orienting one’s life towards a higher mission: discovering and cultivating one’s talents to put them at the service of others. This is the powerful message that the young people took home: everyone can become the protagonist of their own story, building a future that has meaning and impact.
